A fabulous historic railway to visit and a wonderful chance to explore some old steam engines and wagons.
The railway was built to transport coal from nearby collieries to ships o­n the River Tyne.
The oldest part, c1647, was the Lobley Hill section, it had over 300 years of coal traffic when closed in 1964. The surviving 1725 Sunniside to Causey section is now the World's Oldest Working Railway and the Causey to East Tanfield section dates from 1839.
Marley Hill engine shed, built in 1854 and in colliery use until 1970, is where the loco fleet is maintained. the shed is open to the public every day. See www.tanfield-railway.co.uk/cms / for more info.